Indian Fa Confirms That Job Applications From Xavi And Guardiola Were Hoaxes

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) confirmed connected Saturday that a occupation exertion attributed to nan erstwhile Barcelona head and Spain midfielder, Xavi Hernández, for nan India caput coaching domiciled was a hoax.

The Indian FA’s nationalist squad head told nan Times of India connected Thursday that Xavi’s sanction was connected nan database of applicants. The study besides quoted an AIFF method committee personnel saying that his candidacy was deemed excessively costly to pursue.

“The AIFF received an email furnishing nan applications from Spanish coaches Pep Guardiola and Xavi Hernández. The authenticity of their applications could not beryllium confirmed, and it has since emerged that nan email applications were not genuine,” nan AIFF said successful a statement.

It had not been antecedently reported that nan AIFF had besides received an exertion purporting to beryllium from nan Manchester City head Guardiola. India are searching for a replacement for Manolo Marquez, who near nan occupation this period and returned to his domiciled arsenic coach of Indian Super League squad FC Goa.

Igor Stimac was dismissed by India aft nan squad collapsed retired of qualifying for nan 2026 World Cup. Photograph: Xinhua/Rex/Shutterstock

The AIFF method committee added that it had reviewed 170 applications for nan India men’s caput coach role, initially narrowing nan database to 10 earlier shortlisting 3 unnamed candidates. An assignment is planned successful clip for nan team’s adjacent AFC Asian Cup qualifiers this autumn.

“Given nan contiguous needs of nan nationalist team, it is advisable to urge 3 coaches from nan shortlisted excavation for last consideration,” a connection said. “Other salient applicants, galore of whom are highly qualified world coaches, will beryllium taken into relationship for semipermanent strategical roles successful nan future.”

The Times of India person reported that nan 3 candidates being put guardant are nan erstwhile world subordinate Khalid Jamil, doubly erstwhile India head Stephen Constantine and nan erstwhile Slovakia manager, Stefan Tarkovic.

The AIFF sacked erstwhile head Igor Stimac successful June past twelvemonth earlier appointing Márquez. India are presently 133rd successful nan world rankings, and were eliminated from World Cup 2026 qualifying successful nan 2nd round.